Unsafe Lane Changes Can Result in Serious Car Accidents
Whenever you're on the road, you need to consider the people sharing the road around you. That means knowing what vehicles are around you and making sure others know your intentions as well. When changing lanes, this is just common sense, especially when in busy traffic. Yet so many people put others are risk simply as a result of their inattention and failure to note others on the road.
The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau have noticed a number of car accidents in the Daytona Beach area are the result of drivers being reckless and not considering others. With this in mind, we'd like to go over the dangers of unsafe lane changes while on the road.
Reasons Why Lane Changes Can Be Dangerous
There are many reasons why changing lanes can be dangerous. Some common reasons include the following:
- Texting while driving
- Driver distraction
- Inattentive driving
- Reckless driving
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding
Below are some specific dangers related to changing lanes, with some advice on how to avoid these hazards.
Dangers When People Don't Use Signals/Blinkers
One of the most common reasons that lane changes lead to accidents is a failure to use turn signals. Simply using your blinkers to signal your intention to merge left or merge right can prevent serious accidents or near misses from occurring. Make sure the bulbs are in proper working order at all times. If a blinker happens to be out, driver can at least use simple hand signals to let others around them know that they are merging or turning.
Not Checking Mirrors or Blind Spots Can Lead to Crashes
In addition to not using your turn signals, lane changes can be dangerous when people do not check their mirrors and their blind spots. Always look in your rearview mirror, check your side mirrors, and turn to monitor your blind spot before you merge. In doing this, you may notice a car or a motorcycle (or a bicycle in city streets) that you could have struck had you not be cautious.
Hazards from Frequent Switching of Lanes
Sometimes it's not a single lane change that's the issue but multiple lane changes done frequently. We've often seen very aggressive drivers darting back and forth between lanes, trying to get wherever they're going faster by zigging and zagging through traffic. This puts them in danger and also endangers other motorists they overtaking.
Avoid zipping through traffic in this manner, and instead stick to a lane rather than acting like you own the road. Switch lanes when it's prudent to do so, and if you're in a rush, do your best to check traffic ahead of time and make more time for commuting in your schedule.
Cutting Across Multiple Lanes Can Be Deadly
Sometimes people on the highway don't notice that their exit is coming up. When this happens, they suddenly dart across three, sometimes even four, lanes of traffic trying to make their exit. These kinds of actions are extremely dangers. The angle at which they drive compared to the flow of traffic leads to a high risk of a serious multi-car collision.
To avoid this situation, pay attention to the road and signs. If you do miss your exit, safely find the next exit to take and reroute your journey. Better to be safe than sorry.
Contact the Attorneys of Chanfrau & Chanfrau
For more information about your legal rights and options, be sure to contact our personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau are here to help you and your loved ones in your time of legal need.